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Parents Only Thread- Childs first cell phone

Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:48 am
Posted by Murray
Member since Aug 2008
14414 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:48 am
So my friend is going to give his first born a phone. He's with AT&T and would like to activate his old 4S but he only wants the child to be able to talk and text. No data. Is this possible with AT&T? I've done 2 minutes of googling and it appears that this may not be an option with a data phone with AT&T.

If he can make this 4S work, what are his options?

If the 4S isn't a viable route, what did some of you other parents do when it came time to get your kids their first phone?



And I'm just kidding about the "Parents Only" thing. Any advice from non-parents that work in the wireless phone industry would be greatly appreciated as well.
Posted by brass2mouth
NOLA
Member since Jul 2007
19673 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:50 am to
IIRC if you have a "data phone" you are required to sign up for the $30/mo data plan, there is no option to turn that off from the provider. You can disable it through the phone but you're still paying for it.
Posted by GrammarKnotsi
Member since Feb 2013
9320 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:50 am to
quote:

talk and text. No data


Go phone sim card
Posted by tgrbaitn08
Member since Dec 2007
146214 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:51 am to
how old is the kid?
Posted by Ping Pong
LSU and UVA alum
Member since Aug 2014
5346 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:51 am to
quote:

he only wants the child to be able to talk and text. No data.


why is your friend so evil?
Posted by Tigerlaff
FIGHTING out of the Carencro Sonic
Member since Jan 2010
20853 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:51 am to
quote:

Parents Only Thread


#STFUParents

#TeensKnow
Posted by LSUSoulja08
Member since Oct 2007
16969 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:51 am to
Will probably have to do a burner phone

ATT will make you sign up for data if you want a smartphone
Posted by Breaux
Member since Nov 2005
3966 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:52 am to
I don't think you can activate an iphone without data. I bought both of mine a cheaper phone only allowing talk and text for their first phone and then eventually upgraded to iphones using smart limits to manage how much data they can use.
Posted by junkfunky
Member since Jan 2011
33854 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:53 am to
Mine are still too young for a cell phone so I got them prepaid phones and don't activate the service. They can use the wifi where they are (or tethered from my wife's in the car) to text or video chat with us and their grandparents.
Posted by junkfunky
Member since Jan 2011
33854 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:54 am to
quote:

I don't think you can activate an iphone without data.


You can, just google how.
Posted by FishQuiz
Denham Springs
Member since Apr 2011
456 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:55 am to
I just gave my daughter my old iphone. If you are on an att family share plan you can get the my att app and it allows you to turn on and off data on any line on the plan. I give my daughter 2gbs then I cut her off.
Posted by Darth_Vader
A galaxy far, far away
Member since Dec 2011
64383 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:55 am to
I'd call your AT&T local rep and see what they say. We gave my son his grandmother's old Samsung something or another phone and he can use it to call or text but no internet access. The majority of the time we use ti to call him in for supper when he 's out in the neighborhood playing with his fiends.

One piece of advice I'd give to any parent of a kid that they're giving a phone, tell them up front that this is not really "their phone". This is your phone that you are allowing them to use. They should have zero expectation of privacy from you on this phone and you can and will inspect the phone whenever you like.
Posted by LST
Member since Jan 2007
16316 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 8:58 am to
If your friend is worried about the data because of what the kid will be looking at I believe that you can put passcodes on the Safari app. Also the ability to download other apps can be locked too.


And like somebody else said you can block the data on the phone all together but I think you still have to pay for it.
Posted by Murray
Member since Aug 2008
14414 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:00 am to
Thanks all. This is exactly what I was looking for.


quote:

One piece of advice I'd give to any parent of a kid that they're giving a phone, tell them up front that this is not really "their phone". This is your phone that you are allowing them to use. They should have zero expectation of privacy from you on this phone and you can and will inspect the phone whenever you like.


Good point Vader. Thank you sir.
Posted by dyslexic
Left field
Member since Nov 2010
6490 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:11 am to
quote:

how old is the kid?


11. The Kid got on the wrong bus on the first day of school and her mother (no pics) was worried. She wanted to be able to call her.

I didn't think the kid needed a phone at such a young age, but I see the mothers point.
Posted by madamsquirrel
The Snarlington Estate
Member since Jul 2009
48323 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:11 am to
I told my children the same thing about their cars. They were mine that I allowed them to use. No expectation (with attitude) of ownership.
Posted by tigersownall
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2011
15292 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:16 am to
I understand the bus situation. But if your gonna be dumb you gotta be tough. I don't think anyone under the age of 15 should have a phone. I rode buses. Went out late. No phone. Haven't been molested yet.
Posted by meauxjeaux2
watson
Member since Oct 2007
60283 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:16 am to
my kid is 10. Just got her

LINK
Comes with phone and one month of unlimited everything for $49.
Once the month is up i'm going to put her on the minimal plan. Like $30 a month unlimited texts,1500 minutes of talk. 100MB OF DATA
Posted by meauxjeaux2
watson
Member since Oct 2007
60283 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:17 am to
quote:

tigersownall
Nobody here wants to hear your life story.
Posted by dyslexic
Left field
Member since Nov 2010
6490 posts
Posted on 9/4/14 at 9:18 am to
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